Monkey and Me by David Gilman

Author:David Gilman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Published: 2014-02-17T05:00:00+00:00

I am not allowed to call an Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Council and there was no way that Mark was going to either. He was in the bath when I told him about Tracy, because that’s where he is when he comes back from football practice. So I thought that would be the time to explain everything. That way he was less likely to jump out the bath and chase me.

He had soap in his eyes and ears when I first told him what Tracy wanted. He splashed so much water to wash the soap away that it went all over the floor.

Mum has a fit if we make a mess in the bathroom like that, but I thought it wasn’t the right moment to remind him.

“No way! What is it with you? I don’t care what’s going on inside your head, but we’re not having a girl in the gang. It’s never gonna happen, Jez, get used to the idea and don’t mention it again. Now get out!”

I didn’t think he would be that opposed to the idea. I know there are a couple of girls at school who fancy him, but he plays it very cool and doesn’t let on. But I’ve noticed that when they’re around he definitely behaves differently.

“She’s twelve and she’s very clever. She can talk with her hands. It’s called signing. We need it so we can communicate with Malcolm.”

“I don’t care! Malcolm’s a monkey. Monkeys don’t talk. They don’t understand ! Understand? Now get out!”

So I did. I had to find a way around this problem. If I went and spoke to Skimp, Pete-the-Feet or Rocky, then that could cause serious complications for the gang. That would undermine the democratic process. It would be as if I was trying to take over. Which of course I can’t, because I’m not yet in double figures and even if I was, I wouldn’t because Mark is what they call a natural leader.

Sometimes if I get a nosebleed I get some sympathy from Mark, so I closed my eyes and thought hard, imagining the blood coming out my nose and going all over the hall carpet. But nothing happened. Which is just as well, because Mum and Dad always get upset when it does. So how could I get Mark to even think about calling a meeting, never mind considering letting her join?

When he came out the bathroom he walked right past me and slammed his bedroom door in my face before I’d even had a chance to say anything. I pressed my face close to the edge of the door and tapped gently on it. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. I can keep this up all night and I knew it would wear him down in the end until he’d be forced to open the door.

I’d only done about sixty taps when he yanked open the door. “Stop it! Clear off! I don’t want anything to do with you! The subject-matter is closed!”

He was really giving it some welly.

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